Protective cover for a boat

ABSTRACT

A boat deck cover includes a flexible, generally water impervious, non-elastic central sheet with a peripheral, elastic strip having fasteners along the outside edge thereof for attachment to compatible fasteners on the boat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a principal aspect, the present invention relates to a boat cover andmore particularly to a boat cover which protects a boat (cockpit and/ordeck) from the elements including rain and the like.

Boaters often place their boat in an open area on the water or on theirboat trailer. In doing so, and when the boat is not in use, it becomesappropriate and desirable to cover the deck and open top of the boat toprotect it from the elements. Various means have been utilized in thepast for such protection. Typically, a tarpaulin or waterproof sheet ofmaterial is placed over the top of the boat deck and retained thereon bymeans of bungee cords, ropes, straps, snaps and the like. Nonetheless,there has remained a need for a more easily and snugly positioned coversheet or boat cover which can be securely and easily placed on the boatand can be easily removed from the boat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the present invention comprises a boat cover including animpervious or protective central sheet of flexible, waterproof materialhaving a peripheral edge with an elastic band attached to or near thatperipheral edge. Alternatively, an elastic band is positioned between acentral sheet and a peripheral strip of generally inelastic material.When the elastic band is on the peripheral edge, it includes fasteningelements such as grommets incorporated therein which each cooperate withcatch elements such as a stud on a boat to thereby allow the centralprotective sheet to be more easily attached to the top or sides of theboat. When the elastic band is inside the peripheral edge, theperipheral edge may include sections or a strip which incorporates thefastening devices. The fastening devices may thus be positioned onto acompatible catch affixed to the boat by stretching the elastic band. Asan alternative, elastic material which retains the fastening devices(such as grommets) may also be positioned in the elastic band which maybe stretched to enable the fastening device to be positioned over a studor the like affixed to the boat.

Various types of fastening devices may be used in combination with thegenerally non-elastic interior or central panel of the boat cover andthe peripheral fastening arrangement. For example, grommets, key shapedopenings, and twist lock fasteners may be used.

Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide a lightweight,durable, economical, generally waterproof, flexible and easilyattachable boat protection cover.

Another object is to provide a boat cover that may be easily folded forstorage.

Another object is to provide a boat cover that includes a generallyperipheral, elastic fastening feature which insures that the cover willremain tightly attached over or on a boat deck.

These and other objects, advantages and features will be set forth inthe detailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to thedrawing comprised of the following figures:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the boat cover of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the boat cover of FIG. 1 depicting themanner of placement over a boat deck;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the boat cover takenalong the line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the section of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of the boat coverof the invention;

FIG. 6 is a partial side cross sectional view of the alternativeembodiment of FIG. 5 taken along the line 6-6;

FIG. 7 is a partial top plan view of another embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 7 taken along the line 8-8; and

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the figures, the boat cover of the invention comprises aflexible sheet 10 of waterproof material for covering the open topand/or the deck of a boat as depicted in FIG. 2. A generally rectangularor, alternatively boat deck shape, of the sheet 10 is typical. However,the sheet 10 may be configured in any desired pattern or configurationfor coverage of a boat deck or cockpit. The center sheet 10 includes aperipheral edge 12 extending about the circumference of the sheet 10.Attached to the peripheral edge 12 is an elastic material band 14,extending either totally or partially around the peripheral edge 12. Theband 14 may or may not have a generally uniform width defined by thedimension 16 in FIG. 1. Typically, the width 16 is greater than twoinches and possibly greater than about six inches depending on the sizeof the sheet 10 and the boat. Although it is preferable that the band 14has a uniform width, the width of the band 14 may be varied about theperiphery thereof. For example, as depicted in FIG. 1, the width of theband 14 at one end of the sheet 10 may exceed the width of the band 14at the opposite end or side of the sheet 10. The expanded width of theband 14 in FIG. 1 is depicted by the phantom section 18. It is notedthat the phantom section 18 may also be configured or shaped orcontoured as depicted in phantom lines in FIG. 1 or may compriseseparate elastic portions of material attached to the sheet. Thecircumferential edge 12 of the sheet 10 is attached to or fixed to theband 14 by means of stitching, heat sealing or the like.

In one embodiment, arranged at various positions within and along theelastic band 14 are fastener elements 20. The fastener elements 20 (suchas shaped grommets) are preferably positioned adjacent outer edge 22. Ifthe elastic band is on the periphery as depicted in FIG. 3, the elasticband 14 includes a fastener element 20 adjacent outer edge 22. Thefastening element 20 may comprise a round snap or a metal grommet 60,for example, as depicted in FIG. 6. Alternatively, a metal grommet 24may include a keyhole shaped opening 26 which may be fitted over thehead 28 of a post element 30 affixed to a boat deck 33 or boat sidepanel 32. In this manner, the grommet 24 will retain the sheet 10 overthe boat deck. Because the band 14 is elastic, it can adjust fordimensional variances in the location of post elements and for changesin the sheet 10 due to sun and rain. The sheet 10 can thus be tightlystretched onto and cover a boat deck 33 and the open cockpit of theboat. The sheet 10 may thus cover boat decks of various size and shapebecause of the elasticity of the band 14 and its capability toaccommodate at least modest changes in boat shapes.

Numerous types of fastening constructions may be utilized to attach theelastic band 14 to catch elements, such as post element 30 affixed tothe boat. Additionally, numerous types of elastic materials 14 may beutilized in combination with the cover sheet 10. In one embodiment, theband 14 comprises a continuous peripheral elastic element attached tothe sheet 10. Preferably the sheet 10 and band 14 further comprise afoldable, waterproof material to thereby facilitate protection of a boatdeck or other item covered by the sheet 10. However, the elasticmaterial may comprise discrete sections or elements as depicted in FIGS.7-9.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention. Acentral sheet 50 is formed from a flexible, generally water imperviousmaterial. The flexible sheet 50 may be of any configuration, such asdepicted in FIG. 5, wherein the sheet 50 is in the form of a deck of aboat. The sheet 50 is generally non-elastic, though flexible. The sheet50 includes a peripheral edge 52. The peripheral edge is sewn to a bandof water impervious, but elastic material 54, extending about theperipheral edge 52 of sheet 50. The width of the band 54 can vary but isprobably in the range of two or more inches extending outwardly from theperipheral edge 52.

Attached to an outside edge of the peripheral band 54; namely to outsideedge 56, is a secondary circumferential or peripheral band 58. The band58 may be sewn or otherwise attached to the elastic band 54. A snapfastener 60 is provided in the band 58 for cooperation with a headedfastening element 62 attached to the deck or sides of a boat. Note thatthe shape and configuration and relative width of the elastic band 54may be varied about the circumference of the peripheral edge 52.

FIGS. 7-9 depict other alternative embodiments of the elastic band andfastening arrangement. A central flexible sheet 80 includes acircumferential or peripheral boundary.

Multiple elastic strips, such as strip 84, may be attached to and extendoutwardly from boundary 81. Each strip 84 includes a grommet 85 with apolygonal (rectangular) shaped opening 86. The grommet 85 may be fittedover a post 87 having a rotatable, locking catch 88. A pull tab 90 isprovided as an extension of the strip 84. The strip 84 may thus bestretched to position grommet 85 over and on post 87. Alternatively, anelastic band 82 may be attached to boundary 81 and a strap 92 ofnon-elastic material with a grommet 85 compatible with a post 87 may beutilized.

Fasteners of the invention considered important in the choice of thedesign of the boat cover include the width of the elastic boundary band14. A band of at least two inches and preferably about six or moreinches is considered beneficial. Also, placement of the fasteners suchas grommets 60 is preferably adjacent the outer boundary of the band 14.The use of a non-elastic band 58 is highly desirable since thenon-elastic band can utilize materials that will not be seriouslyweakened by grommets 60 and will not tend to tear as some elasticmaterials may. The use of a band 14 enables adoption of configurationsof a sheet 10 which is highly variable and further provides a structurewhich distributes the load on the elastic member or band 14, againenhancing the ruggedness of the construction.

Variations of the combination of elastic and inelastic materials may beused. For example, portions of the sheet 10 may include elastic stripsor sections that permit lateral extension or stretching of the cover.

Thus, while there has been set forth embodiments of the invention, it isto be understood that the invention is limited only by the followingclaims and equivalents thereof.

1. A boat cover comprising, in combination: (a) a waterproof, flexiblesheet having a circumferential edge; (b) a partial or a continuouselastic band fastened to the circumferential edge and extendingoutwardly from the edge, said elastic band including an outside margin;and (c) a plurality of fastener elements attached to the elastic band,each fastener element spaced one from the other about thecircumferential edge and elastically moveable relative to the edge, saidfastener elements positioned adjacent the outside margin whereby thesheet may be placed over the top of a boat and the fastener elementsaffixed to the boat by elastically deforming the band.
 2. The cover ofclaim 1 wherein the sheet is configured generally congruently with thedeck of a boat.
 3. The cover of claim 1 wherein the band has a width ofat least six (6) inches.
 4. The cover of claim 1 wherein each fastenerelement comprises an element selected from the group consisting of asnap, a hook and a grommet that may be attached to a boat.
 5. Auniversal boat cover comprising, in combination: (a) a generallywaterproof inelastic cover sheet having a circumferential edge; (b) apartial or continuous elastic band attached to the circumferential edgeand extending outwardly therefrom; (c) an inelastic, flexible bandassembly attached to the elastic band, said band including fasteners forattachment of the outer edge of the cover to a structure.
 6. A universalboat cover comprising, in combination: (a) a generally non-elastic,generally impervious central cover panel having a circumferential edge;(b) a generally elastic, circumferential band with an outside edge, saidband affixed to and extending outwardly from the peripheral edge of thecentral cover panel; (c) a generally inelastic material attached to theoutside edge of the elastic band at least at selected portions of saidelastic band; and (d) fastening elements located in the inelasticmaterial for attachment to compatible fastener elements on a boat.